Foldable Stackable Pallet with Interlocking Corner Posts
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Solution Overview
Problem
The packaging industry faces challenges in creating packaging solutions that can efficiently serve both transportation and display needs, particularly in reducing time spent on unpacking and repositioning goods, while also allowing for easy stacking and interlocking of pallets.
Innovation Solution
A stackable pallet system formed from paper or plastic blanks, featuring a base with slots for corner posts and a divider panel, allowing for secure stacking and interlocking with other similar pallets, and optionally including a foldable cap for the topmost pallet in a stack.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If traditional packaging is used for both transportation and display, then goods can be transported, but time is spent on unpacking and repositioning goods
Solution Approach 1:
The pallet is designed to serve multiple functions: it can be used for transportation and then converted into a display stand by folding up the side walls. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate packaging and display solutions, directly reducing unpacking and repositioning time while maintaining versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The pallet features foldable side walls that can transition between a flat configuration for transportation and an upright configuration for display. This dynamic structure allows the same object to adapt to different functional requirements, solving the time loss associated with repositioning goods
2Productivity
If pallets are designed to stack, then storage efficiency improves, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pallet is divided into modular components including a base, four corner posts with tabs, and foldable side walls. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function while enabling easy stacking through the tab-slot interface, improving stacking efficiency without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The corner posts with upwardly extending tabs nest into corresponding slots on the base of pallets stacked above, creating a stable interlocking structure. This nesting mechanism enables efficient stacking while maintaining relatively simple individual pallet structures
3Stability of the object's composition
If corner posts with tabs are added to enable stacking, then stacking stability improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The corner posts are integrated directly into the side walls during the forming process, and the tabs are formed as integral parts of the corner posts. This merging of components reduces the number of separate parts to assemble while maintaining stacking stability through the tab-slot interlocking mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A stackable pallet display system includes a tray portion having a rectangular bottom wall, corner posts extending upward from corners of the tray portion and an interior divider panel extending upward from the tray portion. The tray, corner posts and interior divider wall of the system can be folded from blanks of material.